False Dmitri, scrounging up support for his planned invasion of Russia, wins verbal support for his cause from Polish king Sigismund III Vasa and wins further support from the Polish and the Papal nuncio when he publicly converts to Roman Catholicism. He then launches his invasion of Russia with 3500 troops drawn from the private armies of various Polish and Lithuanian nobles. Unpopular Russian tsar Boris Godunov has many enemies, who flock to False Dmitri's banner. Initially, he is triumphant over the reluctant Russian army, capturing several cities, but the tide begins to turn as he gets closer to Moscow and Russian resolve stiffens, and the end of the year sees False Dmitri in retreat.